Weekend Planner

Published February 21st, 2014

Happy Friday everyone! Rain or shine it will be an active weekend across our area.

There'll be plenty going on on the UF campus. The undefeated Gator gymnastics team is at home, this time taking on third ranked LSU in the "Link-to-Pink". That meet kicks off at 7 tonight in the Odome. The ladies lacrosse team is also home and will be in action at Dizney Stadium. They face Cincinnati at 11:30 Sunday morning. Meanwhile, the number one softball team is the host team for the Lipton Invitational at Pressly Stadium. They'll play six games over the next three days taking on Troy, Indiana, Coastal Carolina and Georgia Southern. Website

If you'd like to take in a show, you might want to head over to the Phillips Center tonight. The musical "Memphis" will be on stage. It's inspired by actual events, in this case it revolves around a white radio dj... one of the first to play black music in the 50's. Expect great dancing and music. "Memphis" is the winner of four 2010 Tony Awards, including best musical. Showtime is 7:30 tonight at the Phillips Center. Website

Saturday morning you can get out and get some exercise and raise money for a good cause. Westside Park on NW 34th Street in Gainesville is the place for the annual Autism Awareness 5k. Students from Eastside High School's "Students Together for Autism Research" (known as S.T.A.R.) have held the event for seven years now. It's all to benefit the UF Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. Registration starts at 8, with a kids fun run at 9. The 5k race begins at 9:15 Saturday morning. Website

Back over at UF, the Florida Museum of Natural History is holding its "Wolf to Woof Celebration". The event is celebrating the newest exhibit at the museum which focuses on the history of dogs and their connection with wolves. In addition to the exhibit, you can watch dog agility and detection demonstrations. People from Alachua County Animal Services and the UF College of Veterinary Medicine will be there, too. The event runs from 10 to 3 Saturday. Website

Finally, if it's music you want, the group Exile and Juice Newton are both appearing at the Orange Blossom Opry in Weirsdale. Shows are at 2:30 and 7:30 pm Saturday. Website